PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jeffery Mejia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Grozniy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Grozniy has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mejia
vs
Grozniy

161 cm
23
151 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
23
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jeffery Mejia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Grozniy!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grozniy closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mejia's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Mejia can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Grozniy controls the pace.
Mejia controls Grozniy momentarily but Grozniy frees himself.
Grozniy seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mejia has a closed guard, preventing Grozniy from standing up.

Mejia is looking for a triangle but Grozniy pushes his legs off easily.
Grozniy preventing the sweep.
Grozniy wants to control from the top but Mejia keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grozniy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Grozniy works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Grozniy is trying to work for a kimura but Mejia is defending well.
Mejia could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Mejia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Grozniy is trying to control. Mejia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Mejia actively working from the bottom here.
Mejia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Grozniy controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grozniy is looking to advance position but Mejia won't allow it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Grozniy in particular looking to stall.

Grozniy decides to stand and escape the position.
Mejia fails with the takedown.
Mejia closes this distance looking for a takedown but Grozniy circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grozniy throws a leg kick which misses Mejia's front leg but catches the back leg as Mejia tries to avoid it.

Grozniy closes the distance and clinches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Mejia just leaning against Grozniy, taking a breather.

Grozniy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Grozniy rushes Mejia and presses him up against the cage.
Mejia wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mejia drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Grozniy gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeffery Mejia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mejia is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mejia is breathing heavily.
Mejia drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Grozniy gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Grozniy manages to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mejia throwing strikes from guard but Grozniy blocks nicely.
Mejia lands a couple of elbows.

Grozniy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Mejia got a little sloppy there for a moment and Grozniy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mejia has managed to get both his arms back between Grozniy's legs - danger averted.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mejia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Grozniy dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Grozniy throws a series of punches but Mejia avoids them all with ease.
Mejia shoots in for a takedown but Grozniy shows good takedown defense.
Mejia takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Jeffery Mejia has been cut.

Mejia decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Grozniy has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Mejia is on him like a limpet, forcing Grozniy back against the cage.

Grozniy gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mejia trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Grozniy manages to pass to mount!
Grozniy throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Grozniy trying to control but Mejia is having none of it.
Grozniy misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mejia is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ivan Grozniy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Grozniy takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grozniy throws some wild stikes that Mejia manages to avoid easily.
Grozniy content just to control the position here.
Mejia tries to hold on but Grozniy pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grozniy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mejia is looking to escape.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Grozniy throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Mejia is trying desperately to improve position.
Grozniy trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grozniy controlling from mount.
Grozniy throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Grozniy content just to control the position here.
Mejia tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grozniy thowing shots but they're missing.
Grozniy controlling the pace for now.
Grozniy throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grozniy wants to control the pace but Mejia is squirming around nicely.
Mejia avoids a series of strikes thrown by Grozniy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Grozniy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jeffery Mejia's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mejia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jeffery Mejia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Grozniy closes the distance and clinches.

Grozniy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Grozniy gets the takedown into side control.
Mejia is looking to regain half guard here but Grozniy keeps moving and retains side control.

Grozniy is trying to get an arm triangle but Mejia is defending well.
Grozniy wants to control but Mejia is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mejia is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Grozniy moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Grozniy stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Mejia dives in for a single leg takedown but Grozniy sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mejia pulls guard effortlessly.
Mejia keeping moving, preventing Grozniy from controlling successfully.
Grozniy is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mejia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Grozniy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mejia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grozniy drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Grozniy jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Grozniy controls from within his opponent's guard.
Grozniy is pushing down on Mejia's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mejia is fighting to maintain full guard but Grozniy has managed to sneak the leg through.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Grozniy is just content to waste time from the top position. Mejia takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Grozniy is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grozniy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mejia is keeping the position for now.
Grozniy sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mejia seems keen to control Grozniy's posture.

Ivan Grozniy has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Mejia shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Grozniy as he avoids it easily.
Jeffery Mejia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ivan Grozniy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeffery Mejia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Grozniy drives through with a takedown into Mejia's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Grozniy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Grozniy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Grozniy!